New benches at World Trade Center are crafted with care

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- A place to sit down is a welcome sight for busy people in New York City.

Some new seats have a story in Lower Manhattan around the World Trade Center. 

Twelve wooden benches have been crafted with care at Brooklyn Woods. The shop offers free training to unemployed and low-income New Yorkers in woodworking, cabinet making and fabrication. 

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey partnered with the non-profit organization to hire seven people who were formerly incarcerated to build the furniture.

The agency funded salaries for the workers. The training for the regular seven-week course is not usually paid. It includes classroom and hands-on shop work. 

The tools help change people’s lives. The lumber isn’t the only thing being reshaped. 

"It gave me confidence," said Eric, a craftsman on the project.

Brooklyn Woods Director Scott Peltzer called it an iconic location and emphasized the importance of vocational training. 

A sign by the benches tells the story. Visitors say it gives them a place to reflect. 

"One of the things I think about is how this place has come back with a lot of vibrancy," said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. 

The pilot program could be a model for other projects. It ran 10 weeks. 

Graduates also get assistance with job placement. Many are hired for entry-level positions with firms in the city. Brooklyn Woods graduates about 70 people a year.